Arizona silver belt., 1887-08-20
COaIMUNICATED.

EDIToRs SILVER BELr:-"Taxpayer, in your last week issue, calls atten- tion to the proposed additional com pensation Of District Judges, and de- Glarea it to be illegal and cheeky '' Since the majority of members of the last legislature, and the supervisors of ten out of eleven counties differ with Taxpayer" in that assertion, and the three judges themselves see neither cheek, illegality nor impropriety Tn accepting extra compensation, it would seem that either our friend "Taxpay- err or else great majority of Arizo- mas best and wisest citizens must be m error.
 As 10 legality, the writer is no dis ciple of Blackstone, and does not pro- fess ability to disentangle hair-split- ting law questions. Common sense, however; would teach one that if the proposed compensation is illegal, then all that has heretofore been paid out for and on behalf of the judges was equally so, since no law can be shown :authorinng the eoEnttS-++1 ra.-.- -f..s-.l.e : Judges lodging. The supervisors are allowed to pay for contingencies, without it being particuiarized what these contingencies are, and under that head, probably, supervisors of all other counties have seen it to consid- CT extra compensation to the judges as perfectly legal and proper.
 Considered as question of strict economy to the taxpayers of Gila coun- ty, it should first be understood that many acts and services rendered by the district judges, and which are deemed necessary for the public good, l and save money and much annoyance to those who unfortunately have busi- ness with the court, are not incum- bent upon the judges and can not be exacted from them under the Federal l commission, and that much depends on thelr gratultous exertions and good ! will. Whether it woaid not be only 1 fair to show appreciation for such ser vices by additional compensation,
 
 should be left to generous public | to declde-not to minded souls who think that the same pay will an- swer for a man holding a position of high responsibility, requiring ability and answering integrity, as for a wOod-chopper.
 Taxpayer" is in error about the quota asked from our county. Most other counties pay twice the sum sug- geSted, some even more. The lowest contribution is from Plnal county, and it is reasonable to suppose that the pride and ambition of Gila's citizens would not admit of the proffer of less sum, even if the assessment rolls would not be in exact proportion. . In conclusion, Taxpayer" seems to be unduly exercised least he may be made to suffer in pocket for a modi- gum of the paltry two hundred dol lars proposed to be expended yearly by the supervisors, and which he eyi- lently thinks would be thrown away Now if Taxpayer" who at present is watching the spiggOt, with the bung lole open, will shift his position and ct his argus eye dwell-upon the plans md contracts for the building of the ,ourt house, and see that unbusiness- ike proceedings and reckless expendl- ure does not make the cost of the :ourt house exceed what the citizens lave declared It should be, and what he law fixes as the limit of our in- Iebtedness, viz; $1O,GOO, lie (Taxbav- .r) will find better occupation and ' ,lenty of it, and will be better seryine he public welfare, and his own inter. st as a taxpayer.
 CIrfzrY (